Anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Convention on the Rights of the Child

Campaign commemorating the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November

Every year, the United Nations celebrates World Children's Day to promote children's rights and well-being.

On November 20, 1959, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and on the same day, in 1989, the Assembly unanimously adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CDC). The document was ratified in 1990, including by Portugal.

The CRC is not only a declaration of general principles, but a document that sets out a broad set of fundamental rights – civil and political rights, as well as economic, social and cultural rights – of all children, representing a legal link for the effective promotion and protection of the rights and freedoms enshrined therein.

The Convention is based on four fundamental pillars that are related to all other children’s rights:

NON-DISCRIMINATION

All rights apply to all children without exception. The State has an obligation to protect the child against all forms of discrimination and to take positive measures to promote his or her rights.

HIGHER INTEREST

All decisions concerning the child shall take full account of the best interests of the child. The State shall provide the child with adequate care when the parents or other persons responsible for the child are unable to do so.

PARTICIPATION

The child shall have the right to express his or her views freely on matters concerning him or her and to have those views taken into account. You have the right to express your views, to obtain information, to make ideas known without regard to frontiers. (Articles 12 and 13 of the CRC);

SURVIVAL AND DEVELOPMENT

The measures taken by the Member States to preserve the life and quality of life of children must ensure harmonious development in physical, spiritual, psychological, moral and social terms, taking into account their abilities and talents.

The National Commission for the Promotion of the Rights and Protection of Children and Youth is committed to the effort to amplify the message embodied in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and proposes the accession of all public and private institutions, entities with competence in the field of children and youth and Commissions for the Protection of Children and Youth to the NATIONAL CAMPAIGN “ESTENDAL OF RIGHTS”.

The National Campaign “Rights Extension” aims to involve organisations and citizens by displaying messages on the Rights of the Child in the public space, thus seeking to:

Raising public awareness of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Raising awareness of children and young people about their rights

Facilitate the full integration of children and young people in the process of developing their rights.

Annual Events